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“Your levels are stable now, and the antibiotics are doing their thing. We’ll have to monitor you for another day, but then we should be able to discharge you. And our visits will go from bi-weekly to weekly, but I think you’re going to come out of this really well. You just have to stick to your medications andeat.”
“I understand,” I said. “Had I forgotten to take my meds?”
“We’re pretty positive you did,” he said. “Set a reminder in your phone. Multiple ones if need be. It even helps if you give your schedule to family and friends for reminders too.”
I’d given my schedule to Jim weeks ago when he’d asked and he’d never failed to text me with a reminder. But yesterday had just been crazy and I’d forgotten to take it even after he texted.
And now…
Now he wasn’t even here.
My heart sank all over again.
“Thank you,” my mother said as the doctor headed toward the door.
“Not a problem,” he said. “The nurse will be back in to check on you in a little while. This wasn’t your fault,” he added as he lingered in the open doorway. “You’re doing remarkably well. One of my best patients to date.” He smiled at me before heading out.
My mother instantly hugged me, worrying over me the same way Sephie was. It felt genuine, if not a tad bit awkward. I can’t remember the last time we hugged like this. And when they released me, my father tried to hug me, but I stopped him.
“Andromeda?” he asked, backing away at my urging.
“I’ve made every change you’ve requested of me,” I said, and the tone in my voice must’ve broadcast to the room that I meant business, because Sephie and Mom got off my bed and headed toward the door, lingering there for support but giving us our space too. “Every single demand you placed on me when I returned home and asked for help. I’ve done them and more. I’ve found myself with the help of therapy, I’ve been sober since the day I asked Sephie for help. I’ve stayed out of trouble, I completed the volunteer work you found for me, and I do a damn fine job atLyla’s Place.”
“I know,” he said. “And I’m proud of you.”
Nothing. Not even a flicker of happiness rolled through me at his words. “I don’t need your approval anymore,” I said, and his eyebrows shot up his head. “Or your attention. I’ve done the hard work on my own, and trust me, digging through my traumaisreally hard work because there is a lot of it. But the one thing I need from you, you probably won’t give me.”
“Andromeda—”
“And that’s some goddamn credit,” I finished.
Sephie fist-bumped the air behind my father, and I had to bite back a smile at her support. My mother nodded encouragingly.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, completely flabbergasted. I think there might have even been a bit of hurt in his eyes, but I couldn’t really tell.
“You know exactly what I mean,” I said. “You don’t trust me to make the right decisions, and fine, maybe I made that bed these last ten years, but even before that you didn’t trust me. You still pulled Jim and I apart—”
“This is about him? You were teenagers!”
“I was in love!” I fired back. “And Istillam.”
He stumbled back a step, his mouth hanging open.
“I love Jim. He sees me in a way no one else ever has. He is thebestman I’ve ever known and he inspires me to be the best version of myself. And if you trusted me at all, you would trust that what I say about him is the truth. You wouldn’t be treating him like some bad business deal not worth your time.” I sighed, years of anger rushing through me. “And for the record, you can keep your inheritance. I’ve been living just fine on my own for the last couple of months, and I know I can do it forever. I’d rather live a life with Jim than have all the money in the world. So you havenothingto hold over my head any longer.”
Sephie shifted her weight near the door, a smile on her face that mirrored my mother’s.
Real, genuine pain flitted over my father’s face, and it stung but not enough for me to say I was sorry. I wouldn’t apologize for telling the truth.
“I’m…” He opened and closed his mouth a few times. “I’m sorry.”
Shock slammed through me. I wasn’t sure I’d ever heard those words come out of his mouth before, definitely not when directed toward me.
“I need you to let me talk now.” He took a cautious step toward my bed, like he was approaching a wild animal. “I’ve made a lot of missteps in my life, Andromeda,” he admitted, and the words made emotions tangle in my throat. “But my biggest one has been with you.” He visibly swallowed. “I never wanted to hurt you,” he continued. “I was trying to protect you. I thought I knew what was best for you when I should’ve trusted you to show me. I almost lost your mother, and then, when the doctor told me you wouldn’t make it a year if you kept at it…” He shook his head. “That made me hold onto you even tighter.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
“The demands were my attempt to keep you here with us.”
